Birds that have symbolic/mythical/fantasy affiliations?

A vulture?

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My novel's little corner

Toying with widgets!

An owl, maybe, or a particularly fierce kind of eagle or hawk.

Not necesarily mythical, but you have:
*Cowbirds which lay their eggs in the nests of other birds (sometimes destroying or original eggs) - when the cowbird young hatch, they usually hatch earlier and are bigger that the host young and push them out of the way of the food the foster parents bring back causing the real young to starve to death (or they push the newly hatched out of the nest altogether - splat!)
*Magpies- a rep for stealing shiny objects
*shrikes - take their insect prey and impale them on briars
*geese can be particularly nasty, if you can overcome the comic stereotype

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"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it." - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

2009-Brother Monkey, Brother Lion, Sister Crow
2009 -Bunnystar Galactica Psychic Bunnies IN SPACE

African grey parrots -- supposedly spirit guides, preternaturally smart, and half in this realm/half in the other. Associated with the dead, with protection, with wisdom, and with (if I recall correctly) trickery, and some are said to establish telepathic bonds with their people.

The common cormorant, or shag
Lays eggs inside a paper bag.
You follow the idea, no doubt?
It is to keep the lightning out.

But what these unobservant birds
Have never thought of is, that herds
Of wandering bears might come with buns
And steal the bags to hold the crumbs.

Not sinister...but the first thing I thought of. But if the story corresponds with your plot (villain does something strangely logical, rather less intelligent heroes come about and muck it up), I heartily recommend it.

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Having been called in here very many times over the past few months to answer for this or that misdemeanor, Oliver was well acquainted with the room's nuances and eccentricities – most of them fungal.

A night heron could be cool. They're nocturnal, and their scientific name means night raven

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The Unicorn Skin Book
http://tinyterrarium.blogspot.com/

I think in some North American Indian myth cycles, the Blue Jay plays the role of Trickster - not necessarily evil but not someone you would trust.

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"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it." - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

2009-Brother Monkey, Brother Lion, Sister Crow
2009 -Bunnystar Galactica Psychic Bunnies IN SPACE

A crow, perhaps? Maybe that's too much like a raven, though.
You could also go with a cardinal.

Mynah birds. The common hill mynah can learn a vocabulary on par with an African Grey, and is considered by some to have a clearer speaking voice. There are associations with the Mynah in India as a messenger of the gods.

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Ravens are said to be wise, and sometimes able to talk, but they're usually on the side of good. No reason you can't have a badarse raven, though.

Thunderbirds?

Roc? (but I think they're huge, so mabe not...?)

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check it out at
http://bibliothecadiscordia.wordpress.com/

'ow bout a Rook? Or a thrush *nods to Tolkien*

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Runs Through Faerie Rings

Nightengale

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"The ships hung in the air in much the same way that bricks don't." --HHGttG
"Does this game have a safe word?" --Rob Balder

Magpie

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Think outside the bun...give him a chicken. I dare you.

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Runs Through Faerie Rings

There's always the peacock's association with Hera... ;D

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Really outside the bun - a winged snake.

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"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it." - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

2009-Brother Monkey, Brother Lion, Sister Crow
2009 -Bunnystar Galactica Psychic Bunnies IN SPACE

Hm, does it have to be a bird? How about a sugar glider? :) I've never seen one of those as a pet in a book, and they're reeeeally cool.

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Runs Through Faerie Rings

That was my thought (lizard actually, but scooped :), or a bat or a rat or a praying mantis the size of a rook?

Or if all the familiars are corvids (crows, ravens, magpies the most common) make the villain's an albino, missing feathers, a blood red beak, one eye etc...

Terry Tempest Williams' Sanctuary has lots of birds convenveniately sorted into chapters for you.

Let us know what you decide.

How about a sparrow. But one with the ability to magically multiply itself. Ever seen a flock of sparrows chasing a crow or raven? Just keep making more sparrows until Alfred Hitchcock cries "Enough!"

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Next to a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too hard to read. -- Groucho Marx
Plecostomus

Thanks so much everyone! =DDDDD

Lol, I LOVE the chicken suggestion. xDD That would be freaking hilarious. =P

I can't choose between the chicken, a magpie, parrot, nightingale, eagle/hawk!!! Ahhh!!! All of them would work so well with my villain...maybe a hybrid cross between all of them??? Lol...it might work though...hmm...

A bird with the characteristic klepto-rep of a magpie, the awesomeness of the chicken (LOLZ. That made my day btw. xD), the powers of the parrot, the voice of a nightingale (maybe I can change it into something sinister...), and the fierceness of an eagle/hawk?? A Parkenpiegaleawk???? Lol, this IS fantasy after all...^.^

I like the idea of having a winged lizard/other animal as a familiar, but it doesn't work with me villain...>.> Maybe with another character though???

But anywayy, THANK YOUU!!!! I really appreciate all your suggestions! ^.^

Thanks so much everyone! =DDDDD

Lol, I LOVE the chicken suggestion. xDD That would be freaking hilarious. =P

I can't choose between the chicken, a magpie, parrot, nightingale, eagle/hawk!!! Ahhh!!! All of them would work so well with my villain...maybe a hybrid cross between all of them??? Lol...it might work though...hmm...

A bird with the characteristic klepto-rep of a magpie, the awesomeness of the chicken (LOLZ. That made my day btw. xD), the powers of the parrot, the voice of a nightingale (maybe I can change it into something sinister...), and the fierceness of an eagle/hawk?? A Parkenpiegaleawk???? Lol, this IS fantasy after all...^.^

I like the idea of having a winged lizard/other animal as a familiar, but it doesn't work with me villain...>.> Maybe with another character though???

But anywayy, THANK YOUU!!!! I really appreciate all your suggestions! ^.^

I DOUBLE dare you >:D I've got a little red Bantam rooster who thinks he's a freaking Thunderbird, and he's EVIL! He'll stalk you around the yard and tries to stare down my horses. When he's mad he sticks his neck feathers up and looks like a weird red umbrella. He'd love to be a scheming evil minion. And just think how much fun he'd have waking everyone up at one in the morning.

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Runs Through Faerie Rings

I think Roosters along with goats and cats were some of the animals most frequently identified as witches familiar spirits. Its also one of signs associated with the Chinese Years

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"To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it." - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

2009-Brother Monkey, Brother Lion, Sister Crow
2009 -Bunnystar Galactica Psychic Bunnies IN SPACE

My vote goes either to a pterodactyl, or to a flamingo.

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"This is going to be the worst day of your life. I'm bringing nunchuks." H. Freeman